10 days, 600 bags of ice of ice, and 11 frozen celebrities later the Big Freeze 2 has raised over $2.4 million of much needed funds for research into a cure for Motor Neurone Disease. Of the total an extraordinary $625,000 was raised through sales of the iconic Big Freeze 2 beanies which have been seen across social media during the campaign, and worn by some of sports biggest identities including Mick Fanning, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Murray.
Cure for MND Foundation patron Neale Daniher says “It’s been nothing short of inspirational to see the amount of support we’ve received from not only the football community, but the public in general”.
Thousands of members of the Freeze Army rallied behind Neale and listened to his address at Federation Square, before marching behind him to the MCG as part of Melbourne Football Club’s ‘AHG Walk to the ‘G’. “It was hard not to feel humbled by the view of thousands of supporters wearing their Big Freeze 2 beanies and showing that they’re party of the Freeze Army” said Neale. Thousands more gathered at the Holden Centre as part of a similar event organized by Collingwood Football Club with the groups both marching to the MCG in time to see the much anticipated celebrity ‘freezing’.
And they weren’t disappointed. High profile celebrities from across Australia donned a variety of attire and one by one rode toboggans down into 3 tonnes of ice and water. Crowd favourite Samantha Armytage kept with the freeze theme by going down the slide dressed as Elsa from the blockbuster hit movie Frozen. Her co-presenter David Koch was dressed as Olaf from the same movie. Eddie McGuire in true fashion wore a suit adorned by the logos of various corporate sponsors who had made donations to the event.
During the match, the Federal Minister for Sport and Health, the Hon Sussan Ley announced that the Australian Government would match the total amount raised at the Big Freeze 2 event and until midnight on the day of the event.
Neale Daniher thanked all involved for their contributions to the Big Freeze 2, ‘Like in footy, you need a great team to get results, and we have been lucky in having fantastic team players right across the board’ Neale said, ‘From our major partners in AHG, and the AFL CrownBet Community Partnership, to our supplier partners, celebrity ‘sliders’, and members of the organizing committee and volunteers, myself and the foundation extend a heartfelt thank you. This truly could not have been achieved without the effort and support that you’ve shown and your contributions are greatly appreciated by not just us, but MND sufferers and their carers everywhere’. The support from Big Freeze 2 partners and suppliers has meant that every dollar donated goes towards finding a cure.
Neale also thanked those who participated by donating, buying a beanie or walking to the MCG, “I’d like to thank all of those who donated their time and money to the Big Freeze 2. You have given us hope. Hope that one day soon this beast of a disease will be defeated once and for all. Without you we won’t find a cure and you’ve helped us take an important step towards achieving that goal’. You can continue to contribute toward the Cure for MND foundation by visiting freezeMND.com or curemnd.org.au.
